A method has been provided for the disinfection of water polluted by bacteria comprising administering zero-valent iron to the water in the presence of oxygen. This administration lead to the hydroxyl free radicals generation assuring the disinfection of contaminated water. A method has been used to proof the generation of free radicals. This method is based on determining content of a thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance in a solution comprising administering zero-valent iron in the presence of oxygen and 2-thiobarbituric acid to the solution and measuring a concentration of a 2-thiobarbituric acid-complex. Several samples of polluted water were tested by treating using free radicals generated by zero valent iron powder. The results show that after 6 to 10 minutes the bacteria disappear completely.
